History

Land Purchased

The Roman Catholic Church was initially rejected by the firmly-Protestant plantocracy on the island of Barbados, and did not become accepted there until after the abolition of slavery in 1838.

The Beginning

This first St Patrick’s Church was solemnly blessed on 17 March 1848 by Bishop Patrick Smith the Vicar Apostolate who resided in Trinidad, and was consecrated on March 10.

Burnt Down

On Trinity Sunday, June 17th 1897 in an early morning fire the Church was burnt down. A mystery to this day. Arson was suspected. But from the ashes of the first St Patrick’s Church arose the present Church.

Construction

Construction began and all was ready by the 17th March 1899, the feast of St Patrick, for the solemn Blessing. St Patricks remained the one and only Catholic Church until the year 1954.

Cathedral

St Patrick’s Church was raised to the status of Cathedral on March 18, 1970.

Bishop Dickson

Bishop Anthony Hampden Dickson was appointed Bishop of Bridgetown - Kingstown on 19th October 1970 and ordained bishop of Bridgetown- Kingstown on 29th January 1971. His tenure ended on 23rd April 1995.

Diocese Split

The diocese was split on 23 October, 1989, into the Diocese of Bridgetown and the Diocese of Kingstown. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgetown (Latin: Dioecesis Pontipolitanus) is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the Caribbean. The Diocese encompasses the entirety of the former British dependency of Barbados and is a member of the Antilles Episcopal Conference.

Bishop Galt

Bishop Malcolm Patrick Galt was appointed Bishop of Bridgetown on 23rd April 1995. His tenure ended on 31 May 2005

Apostolic Administrator

Holy See had officially accepted the resignation of Most Rev Malcolm Galt, CSSp, as bishop of Bridgetown , Barbados , with effect from May 31, 2005 and appointed Bishop Robert Rivas, OP, of the diocese of Kingstown , St Vincent and the Grenadines , as Apostolic Administrator of the diocese of Bridgetown pending the appointment of a bishop of Bridgetown.
The Apostolic Administrator appointed Fr Harcourt Blackett as his delegate. The Delegate is the resident representative of the Apostolic Administrator in the day-to-day administration of the diocese.

360th Anniversary

In 2009, the Mayor of the Irish city of Drogheda presented Father Harcourt Blackett with a scroll to commemorate the 360th anniversary of the deportation of Irish Catholics to Barbados. The Irish Catholic migrants formed the basis of the Catholic Church in Barbados. Historically, the Church of England was the official state religion in the colony of Barbados, and the Irish Catholics who practised their faith were forced to do so in underground caves in Barbados. Specifically, Indian Cave and Chapel Cave, both in the northern parts of Barbados, have been identified as having been used for this purpose.

Monsignor

Father Harcourt Blackett was bestowed the title of Monsignor by Pope Benedict XVI on the recommendation of Archbishop Rivas. Monsignor Vincent Harcourt Blackett is the first person in Barbados to be granted this honour, and was presented to the church during the Chrism Mass on April 6 at St Patrick’s Cathedral.

Bishop Jason Gordon

Monsignor Jason Gordon was consecrated bishop of Bridgetown and Kingstown on 21 September 2011. The Diocese has had three Bishops throughout its history, the first of whom was Bishop Anthony Dickson, from 1970 to 1995. In September, 2011, Msgr Jason Gordon was consecrated Bishop of this Diocese, after the retirement of Bishop Malcolm Galt in May 2005. Both Bishops Malcolm Galt and Jason Gordon are clergy native to Trinidad.

1st Synod

2014 The Diocese of Bridgetown under the guidance of Bishop Jason Gordon held its first Synod.

Bridgetown

On 20th February Gerard Maxim County was ordained Bishop of Kingstown. Bishop Jason Gordon remained Bishop of Bridgetown.

Chancellor

Effective 1st June 2016 Ms. Glenda Elaine Medford was appointed the first Chancellor of the Diocese of Bridgetown, The Chancellor is a canonical function required by Canon law 482 § 1.